Supreme Court of Malawi to determine on Chaponda suspension Wednesday: Matter before Judge Mwaungulu

The Supreme Court of Appeal is on Wednesday set to hear and make determination an appeal case on whether embattled Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development George Chaponda  should continue serving a High Court ordered suspension or not.

Judiciary spokesperson Mlenga Mvula said Judge Dunstain Mwaungulu will hear the appeal case in the Supreme Court in Blantyre.

“The Supreme Court will make its determination on whether to continue with the stay order granted to the civil society organisations or not.

“ If the court decides to sustain the stay then Honourable Chaponda will continue to be on suspension, if the stay is removed, Honourable Chaponda will resume his duties,” said Mvula.

Chaponda, along with Admarc CEO Foster Mulumbe, are serving suspensions following reports of suspicious dealings in the procurement of Admarc maize from Zambia.

They are  alleged to have played a role in the maize deal that has gone sour between Admarc and two Zambian companies —Kaloswe Commuters and Courier Limited and Zambia Cooperative Federation (ZCF).

Both Chaponda and Mulumbe deny any wrong doing.

Chaponda is expected to apppear before the parliamentary inquiry on maizegate on Wednesday.

Chairperson of the inquiry, Joseph Chidanti Malunga said Chaponda will appear at 9:30 am, to be followed by Grain Marketers Association officials. On Friday, Malunga said, Transglobe officials will appear before the inquiry.

The inquiry MPs are also interested to question’key witness’  Grace Mijija  the chairperson of Grain Traders Association of Malawi.